KUALA LUMPUR, 19 March 2009: Small employers registered with Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB) will be fully exempted from paying the human resources development (HRD) levy for the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2011.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam said today 1,067 employers in the manufacturing sector with 50 workers and below and paid-up capital of less than RM2.5 million would benefit from the exemption.

“Currently, the small employers are given option to register with Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad and they are paying HRD levy at the rate of 0.5% of the total salary of their employees.

“During the exemption period, small employers are expected to save RM12.48 million,” he said in a statement here today.

Subramaniam said that despite the exemption, employers were encouraged to send their employees for training.

“It is hoped that the exemption would help cushion the impact of the global economic crisis affecting small employers so that they can remain competitive,” he said.

He said the exemption was also in line with government efforts to assist small- and medium-scale industries (SMIs) which was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the second stimulus package on 10 March.

The reduction the rate of HRD levy from 1% to 0.5% for all employers registered with PSMB for that period would benefit 11,954 employers and would save RM390.08 milion for all industries, he said. — Bernama